Aircraft Interior Inspection System Using 2D-3D Layout Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current aircraft inspection process is inefficient, particularly in identifying inconsistencies in passenger and crew areas, as it requires time-consuming manual marking and referencing of parts within three-dimensional models, leading to increased time and expense in creating work orders.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based system that displays a two-dimensional layout and three-dimensional view of an aircraft's interior, allowing inspectors to quickly and accurately identify part locations and enter inconsistency information directly, using a processor unit and inertial measurement unit to facilitate navigation and data entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual marking and referencing of parts within three-dimensional models is used, then inspection accuracy is maintained, but inspection time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy (three-dimensional model) of the aircraft interior that can be interactively explored. Inspectors can navigate the virtual model to identify parts and inconsistencies without physically marking each component, significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining accuracy through precise digital location tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a mobile computing device as an intermediary between the inspector and the aircraft interior. This device provides augmented reality overlays and digital annotations that guide inspectors to inconsistencies without requiring manual marking, thereby reducing inspection time while preserving measurement precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed manual documentation of part locations is performed, then work order accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the inspection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service documentation by automatically capturing part locations and inconsistency details through the interactive three-dimensional model. The digital model automatically tracks and records inspector navigation and selections, generating accurate work order information without requiring complex manual documentation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical documentation (writing, marking, physical note-taking) with digital capture methods. The mobile device automatically records part identifiers, locations, and inconsistency descriptions by tracking inspector interactions with the three-dimensional model, simplifying the process while maintaining work order accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for inspecting an aircraft (102). The method displays, by a processor unit (2004) in a mobile device (112), a two-dimensional layout (120) of an interior (106) of an aircraft (102) on a graphical user interface (122) on the mobile device (112) in which the two-dimensional layout (120) includes fixed features (126) visible within the interior (106) of the aircraft (102). The method displays, by the processor unit (2004), a three-dimensional view (128) of a group of objects (130) in the aircraft (102) on the graphical user interface (122) on the mobile device (112) with a point-of-view (132) at a selected distance from an object (136) in the group of objects (130) and in a direction (138) when a fixed feature (140) corresponding to the object (136) is selected from the fixed features (126) in the two-dimensional layout (120) using an input system (142) for the mobile device (112). The method changes, by the processor unit (2004), the direction (138) of the three-dimensional view (128) in response to movement (144) of the mobile device (112).